Printing-machine.



No. 699,420. 7 Patented May 6, I902.

R. L. SHEPHERD & H. B. BRADFORD, ha.

PRINTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Sept. 26. 1901.) (N 0 M o d e I bBOAIZiOMZ VMDGBOCEBIEZ 'Hllllilllllll UTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT L. SHEPHERD AND HENRY B. BRADFORD, JR, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

PRINTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 699,420, dated May 6,1902.

Application filed September 26, 1901. Serial No. 76,673. (No model.)

To all whont it may concern: I Be it known that we, ROBERT L. SHEPHERand HENRY B. BRADFORD, J12, citizens of the United States, residing atNew Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana,have

invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing-Machines; andwe do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exactdescription of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in printing devices, and isespecially adapted for use in printing on Wrapping-paper as it is drawnfrom an independent roll.

The main object of our invention is to produce a means for exerting anequal pressure and regulating the said pressure on the rollers, therebyimparting an even impression to the entire surface of the printing-formfor securing at all times a perfect print.

Our chief means of attaining this end is by providing an adjustabletension-spring engaging and holding the various rollers in rollingcontact and under a predetermined pressure.

To more fully describe our invention, reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, in which the same letters of reference designatethe same parts in the several views.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of our improved printing devicemounted in front of a roll of wrapping-paper. Fig. 2 is a frontelevation of the printing device, a part of the form being broken awayto show its rubbercushion support; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged sideelevation of the adjustable spring, the

frame and guiding-thimble being shown in section.

To the base A We secure two suitable uprights B, connected at theirupper ends by the cross-piece O. The uprights B are slotted for thegreater portion of their length, as at 11, and formed thereon are theshoulders I), with the set-screws b. In these vertical slots are journaled the shafts of the operating-rollers of the device, the shaft ofthe platen or impression roller D being supported by the lower edge ofthe slots. The form or printing roller E, which is also journaled' inthe vertical slots 19, is provided at its ends with the annular flangese, which are adapted to be held in rolling contact against theimpression-roller D.

F designates the printing-form and may be secured to the roller E in anysuitable manner between the flanges e. The letters are so raised on theform as to be slightly higher than the flanges e, so that when the tworollers D and E arerevolved and the form F passes over theimpression-roller the Weight of the impression will fall upon the type,securing a more perfect print.

Although we have describedlhe form F as being affixed to the roller Eproper, it may be desirable and in practice we generally do provide acushion of spongy rubber f, to which the form F is secured. This cushionmay also be a pneumatic cushion instead of spongy rubber, as willreadily be apparent; or we might use a printing-form comprising a rubbercushion havingraised letters out thereon, as in the ordinary rubberstamps, and suitably secure the same to the form-roller.

The inking-roller G is similar in construction to the form-roller E, theflanges g of the ink-roller being adapted to rest and revolve on theflanges e of the form-roller E.

The inking-roller is provided with a suitable ink-pad G, whichholds theink and distributes it on the type as they pass beneath the'same duringthe revolution of the formroller,the inking-roller being of such adiameter in respect to the form-roller that the revolutions of therollers in respectto each other will be so controlled that the type willengage diiterent parts of the inking-pad in each successive revolution,thereby insuring an even distribution of-ink on the type.

In order to secure a suitable tension device for regulatingthe pressureof the'rollers, we have formed from a straight piece of resilient metalsubstantially elliptical-shaped springs H, having theinwardly-projecting and concave bearing-surfaces h, which are adapted 9to engage the shaft of the inking-roller G.

The ends it of these springs are bent outwardly opposite the surface Itand are adapted to project into a hollow internally-screwthreadcdthimble or guide-plate I, provided in the cross-piece C of the frame. Anadj usting-screw J, having a milled head, is adapted to be screwed intothe thimble I, and its end rests against the ends h of the springs H.From this device it will be apparent that the pressure between therollers will always be uniform, and the vertical freedom of movement ofthe form-roller can be readily regulated to permit of differentthicknesses of paper being passed between the same and theimpression-roller, the spring I-I always tending to hold the rollersagainst each other under tension.

The roll of paper K to be printed on is supported in any suitable mannerin proximity to the printing device. We have shown it as supported insuitable uprights L, secured to the base A. We have shown the topcrosspiece M provided with downwardly-curved arms N, having a guide 91.,which serves to prevent the paper from unwinding too fast. When thepaper is fed from a roll, as described, We provide the knife-edge orcutter O, which is supported in front of the printing device by the arms0, adjustably secured in the shoulders Z) of the uprights 13. Upon thepaper being pulled between the rollers D and E the same are caused torevolve, and the type engaging the inking-pad on the roller G will nowmake an impression on the paper as it passes between the type and theimpression-roller, after which the paper is raised into contact with theknife-edge O and torn off in suitable lengths.

Although we have described the paper as being fed from a roll, it isreadily apparent that our deviceis equally adapted to print on paper outin sizes, such as bags, blotters, &c.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The combination with a plurality of rollers adj ustably mounted inguideways, of a tension device for regulating the'pressure between saidrollers, comprising a pair of substantially elliptical-shaped springs,the lower faces of which are provided with central concave depressions,forming bearing surfaces adapted to engage the shaft of the end roller,and adjustment-screws engaging said springs opposite said centraldepressions.

2. The combination with a slotted frame and a plurality of rollersadjustably mounted therein, of a tension device for regulating thepressure between said rollers, comprising a pair of substantiallyelliptical-shaped springs, provided with a central inwardly-projectingbearing-surface, engaging the shaft of the end roller, andoutwardly-bent ends opposite said bearing-surface, thimbles mounted insaid frame for retaining the ends of said springs, and anadjustment-screw operating in said thimbles and engaging the end of saidsprings.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

R. L. SHEPHERD. H. B. BRADFORD, JR.

lVitnesses:

J. F. LEAKE, H. 0. BROWN.

